Vacuum cleaner system



Dec. 1, 1959 w. F. SCANLAN E 2,914,789

VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM Filed March 1]., 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I K E w x NO K E Q N 3 INVENTORS PM J-Fwul ATTORNEYS Dec. -1, 1959 w. F. SCANLANETAL 2,914,789

VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HG. B-

5Q 17 M w 62 m? g; fi 98 55 7 mi I. 62 55 6'6 65 FIG. 4 57 77 J/ K 1810A I i 1 10% 75 ATTORNEYS ,gized upon insertion of the hose into anoutlet.

j I 2,914,789 VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM -Warren F. Scanlan, Philadelphia,and Arthur M. McGuire,

jYeadon, Pa., assignors to Precise Vac-U-Tronic, Inc., Philadelphia,Pa., a corporation of New Jersey I Application March 11, 1957, SerialN6. 645,290

' 7 Claims. c1. 15-314 invention relates to a vacuum cleaner system, and

,more particularly concerns improvements in the connecting and actuatingcomponents of a vacuum cleaner sysminimum amount of current, and doesnot interfere with radios or television sets or with other electricalappliances. It is another object of this invention to provide in suchasystem acontrol device for automatically turning the ,system on and offwhich is small in size, compact and easily replaceable.

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will further becomeapparent hereinafter and in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a view in elevation of a remote control vacuum cleanersystem constructed in accordance with this inventiom.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged view in cross-section of V the outletshown at the left in Fig. 1; and

. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged view in cross-section of ,theoutletshown at the right of Fig. 1; and

i. Fig. 4 represents a'diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit ofthe system including the control device that automatically turns thesystem on and off.

Although specific terms are used in the following description forclarity, these terms are intended to refer only to structure shown inthe drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

' Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings, the number 11 designates generally theinterior of a house having a basement 12 and a first fioor 13 with rooms14 and '15. Room 14 has a wall 16 in which is located an outlet 17, androom 15 has a wall 18 in which is located an' outlet 21.

In basement 12 is positioned a stationary vacuum generating unit 22which is connected to outlet 17 by apparatus for passing air at reducedpressure including a conduit 23 which extends from the side of unit 22,a flexible elbow 24, a vertical section of conduit 25, flexible conduit26, T connection 27, horizontally positioned flexible conduit 23,conduit 31, flexible elbow 32, and elbow'33 which is jointed to outlet17. Vacuum generating unit 22 is also connected to outlet 21 byapparatus for passing air at reduced pressure including conduit 23,elbow 24, conduit 25, conduit 26, T connection 27, flexible conduit'34,conduit 35, flexible elbow 36, and elbow 37 which is joined to outlet21. Conduits llnitedStatesPatent 23, 25, 31, 35, T connection 27 andelbows 33 and 37 are preferably made of aluminum, and conduits 26, 28,

34 and elbows 24, 32 and 36 are preferably made of rubber. Having thealuminum components of the system joined together by rubber componentsis of advantage since it permits easy installation without the use ofspecial tools or procedures. Outlets 17 and 21are provided with outletcaps or plugs (not shown) for covering the outlet when it is not beingused.

In the electrical circuit for generating the vacuum and for controllingthe vacuum system, electrical current is brought into a fuse box 41which is connected to a standard electrical outlet 42 which is adaptedto receive a plug 43 which is connected to a control device 44. Theother side of controldevice 44 is connected to vacuum generating unit 22by conductors 45.

Bonding Wire 46 connects conduit 25 to conduit 31,

, and bonding wire 47 connects conduit 31 to elbow 33 which is connectedto ground through conductor 48. Control device 44 is connected toconduit 25 by a sensing lead 49. The electrical circuit between elbow.33 and conductor 48 is normally open as will hereinafter be more fullydescribed.

Conduits 31 and 35 are electrically connected by conductor 51, andconduit 35 is connected to elbow 37 by bonding wire 52. A conductor 53is mounted on elbow 37 but is not in electrical contact therewith.Conductor 53 provides areturn to control device 44 and to ground.

Referring to Fig. 2 which is an enlarged view in crosssection of outlet17 and elbow 33, elbow 33 is'provided with a flange 54 which is screwedinto wall 16. Mounted on elbow 33 is a post 55 that is electricallyinsulated from elbow 33 by an insulator 56. Post 55 is connected toground through conductor 48. Inside elbow 33 an electrically conductingspring leaf 57 is secured to post 55 and is spaced away from elbow 33.Also mounted on the inside wall of elbow 33 is a lock pin 58. In usingthe vacuum cleaner system of this invention, a hose 61, which has at oneend a cleaning implement and at the other end an electrical connector62, is connected to outlet 17. Connector 62 is provided with a guardflange 63 and with a slot 64 having a longitudinal portion 65 and acircumferential portion 66. To connect hose'61 with outlet 17, connector62 is inserted into elbow 33 with the longitudinal portion 65 of slot 64sliding along .pin 58, and then connector 62 is rotated withcircumferential portion 66 sliding along pin 58.

Turning to Fig. 3 which is an enlarged view in horizontal section ofoutlet 21 and elbow 37, elbow 37 is threaded at its end 67 to receive athreaded flange 68 that is screwed into wall 18. A post 71 is mounted onelbow 37 and is insulated therefrom by insulator 72. Bonding wire 52 isconnected to elbow 37 through a post 73. Post 71 is connected toconductor 53. In the arrangement of Fig. 3, post 71 serves the dualfunction of electrical connector and lock pin which are performed invFig. 2 by post 55 and lock pin 58.

Thus, outlet 17 is provided with a'sensing lead circuit generallydesignated by the letter A, and outlet 21 is provided with a sensinglead circuit B.

Sensing lead circuit A passes from ground through control device 44 andincludes sensing lead49, conduit 25', bonding wire 46, conduit 31,bonding wire 47, elbow 33, leaf 57, post 55, and conductor 48 to returnto'ground. Circuit A is normally open and is closed upon insertion ofconnector 62 between leaf 57 and elbow 33.

Sensing lead circuit B passes from control device 44 and includessensing lead 49, conduit 25, bonding wire 46, conduit 31, bonding wire51, conduit 35, bonding Wire 52, post 73, elbow 37, post 71, andconductor 53 to return to control device 44. Circuit B is normally openand is closed upon insertion of connector 62 in in secondary winding112.

' embodiment.

:size and arrangement of parts.

former 76. A conductor '77 leads from one side of primar-y winding 75 toan electrical outlet 78 and, a conductor 81 leads from the other side ofwinding 75 to contact 82 of a relay 83. Conductor 84- connects the othercontact 85 of relay 83 to electrical outlet 73. Vacuum generating unit22 is connected to outlet '78 through conductors 4'5 and a plug 86.Secondary winding 87 of transformer 76 is connected to the anode 88 ofan indirectly heated gas thyratron 89 through conductor 91 andrelay-coil 92 which has in parallel therewith capacitor 93. A conductor94- is connected to conductor 91 and to a resistor 95 which is connectedto variable resistor 96 by conductor 97. Conductor 98 connects resistor96 to the other side of winding 07. Conductor 97 is also connected toground by a conductor 99.

Variable resistor 96 has in contact therewith a movable contact 101which is connected to another variable resistor 192 which has a movablecontact 103 that is connected to control grid 104 through conductors 105and 106, and to post 71 through conductors 105 and 53. Fig. 3illustrates how outlet 21 is connected into the electrical circuit;outlet 17 is connected into the circuit a similar manner.

Tube 89 is provided with a screen grid 107 which is tied to cathode 108for stability. Filament 111 is heated ances such as radios andtelevision sets.

Excellent results have been obtained, it has been found, where ordinaryhouse voltage, for example 117 volts at 60cycles is impressed on primaryWinding 75. This induces approximately 125 volts at 15 milliamperesacross secondary winding 87 and 6.3 volts at .6 ampere In this circuit,tube 80 is a 2D2l gas thyratron, relay 83 is a highly sensitive, highresistance relay on the order of 10,000 ohms, resistor 95 has a value of12,000 ohms, resistor 96 is a 5,000 ohm potentiometer, resistor 102 is al megohm potentiometer and capacitor 93 is an 8 microfarad capacitor.

In operation, insertion of connector 62 of hose 61 into outlet 17 closessensing lead circuit A and insertion of connector 62 into outlet 21closes sensing lead circuit B. The outlets 1'1", 21 may be usedalternatively or at the same time, as desired. Closing the sensing leadcircuit upsets the balance of the control grid circuit and causes tube89 to fire and energize relay 83 to close contacts 82, 85 which energizethe vacuum generator unit 22. Thus, immediately upon insertion of hoseconnector .62 into an outlet the vacuum system is automaticallyenergized. No tools or keys or other procedure is necessary. Similarly,when the operator is finished using the vacuum system the system isautomatically de-energized upon withdrawal of the hose connector 62 fromthe outlet. This withdrawal restores the control grid circuit to itsnormal condition and causes tube 89 to stop firing.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred It will be appreciated that anumber of wall outlets may be added and the piping and wiring extendedto provide its service for any number of floors. In addition, variouschanges may be made in the shape,

Also, if desired, resistors 96, 102 and contacts 101, 103 may be omittedand two resistors of equal value, preferably about 2200 ohms,substituted for resistor 96 and the conductor 105 connected. between thesubstituted resistors. Equivalent elements may be'substituted for thosedescribed herein,

'parts may be reversed and certain features of the invention may beutilized independently of the use of other features, all withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Vacuum cleaner apparatus comprising a vacuum generating unit, avacuum outlet spaced away from said generating unit, conduit meansconnected between the vacuum generating unit and said outlet for passingair at a reduced pressure, and a conduit sensing circuit for actuatingsaid vacuum generating unit, said conduit sensing circuit including saidconduit means and said vacuum generating unit, an electrical switchmeans mounted on said outlet, an electrical connector which is adaptedto be inserted into said switch means to acfi'vate the conduit sensingcircuit, a source of electrical power connected in said sensing circuit,and a control device connected in said conduit sensing circuitresponsive to the insertion of said connector to actuate said controldevice which in turn actuates said vacuum generating unit.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein one side of said switchmeans is grounded.

3. The vacuum cleaner apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein saidadjustable control device includes an electrical control circuit havingrelay means for closing the circuit between said source of electricalpower and said vacuum generating unit for actuating said vacuumgenerating unit, and a gas tube connected in the electrical controlcircuit with the coil of said relay means forming a part of the platecircuit of said gas tube, said tube having a control grid circuit havingvariable biasing resistor means to set up a desired negative bias whichmust be overcome to fire the tube, said control grid circuit beingconnected in parallel with the portion of said conduit sensing circuitoutside said control device so that closing said conduit sensing circuitby inserting said electrical connector in said switch means overcomesthe bias of the control grid circuit to fire said tube and close saidrelay rneans to energize said vacuum generating unit.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein is pro vided a transformerconnected between said source of electrical power and said tube so thatthe current in said conduit sensing circuit is of a safe, low magnitude.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein shielding means forpreventing interference with electrical appliances such as televisionsets is positioned around the tube of the control device.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said I outlet includes aconduit for passing air at reduced pressure, and said switch meansincludes a post fixed to said conduit and electrically insulatedtherefrom and electrically connected in said conduit sensing circuit,and a contact member mounted on said post and positioned within andspaced away from said conduit and arranged to receive said electricalconnector means whereby to close said conduit sensing circuit forautomatically enerizing said vacuum cleaner system.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said outlet includes aconduit for passing air at reduced pres- 7 sure, and said switch meansincludes a post fixed to and References Cited in the file of this patent5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,799 Dinspel May 16, 1905 6 Kellogg Feb. 5,1918 Robinson Mar. 16, 1937 Wolfner Dec. 22, 1942 Wolfner July 27, 1944Boothroyd July 29, 1947 Dudley Jan. 23, 1951 Cogshall May 13, 1952

